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Sunday, 7 April 2013

Reflection on today’s Gospel 18

Today is known as Divine
Mercy Sunday (the idea came from the blessed Pope John Paul II) and marks the end
of the octave of the present liturgical year- eight day celebration from the
feast of Easter. As Christians we use the eight days to reflect deeply on the
mystery of Christ’s death on the cross and victory over death- his resurrection
from the dead- with the assistance of the Holy Spirit.

In today’s gospel, John
20, 19-31, we are exposed to the joy of Christ’s resurrection with the account
of Thomas’ pessimism- he was an incurable pessimist. Ever since Christ
resurrected from the dead on Easter Sunday, we have been witnessing the glory
of his resurrection, though slowly but surely. After Christ had risen from the
dead, Thomas and some other apostles were still doubtful and weak in faith
until Christ appeared to them to prove to them that the news they had heard
about his resurrection were not shams. It may seem very easy to cast reproach
on Thomas for being too doubtful and pessimistic about Christ’s resurrection
but truly some of us, given the way we lead our lives, still need Jesus to
appear to us and ask us to dip our hands into his wounds before we believe he
is truly the messiah. You are not any different from Thomas when you doubt God’s
ability to turn around your ugly situations. You are a doubting Thomas when you
jump from one church to another seeking for miracle or ministerial salvation. Your
pessimism is more incurable than Thomas’ when you deviate from your faith or
lead others astray in pursuit of earthly things that are transient. You’re
asking God for the proof of his resurrection each time you question him about
every hardship you’re passing through. Each time you worry so much about your
setbacks or your unexpected circumstances in life that you begin to ask whether
Christ truly exists or not, you’re asking God to show you the wounds of his
passion, his pierced hands and side.

With today’s gospel message
we are expected to cast aside our doubts in God and always have faith in him because
by our faith in him and our conversion we receive the treasure of his Divine
Mercy.